2004 Year in Review

Six vehicle accident sends 12 to area hospitals

Michael Lanhart's vehicle is being pulled from the ditch by Rick's Auto Body.

A six-car chain reaction accident, which occurred Thursday, June 10, 2004 on US Highway 30 and Creamery Road, sent 12 people to area hospitals.

According to Illinois State Police the accident occurred at 3:30 when a vehicle driven by Cassie L. Hanson, 17, Morrison was traveling east bound on US 30 and was stopped at Creamery Road attempting to make a left hand turn, northbound. She was yielded to oncoming traffic. A second vehicle driven by Brian A. Voda, 31, Clinton, IA, and a third vehicle driven by Michael C. Lanhart, 54, Morrison were stopped behind the Hanson vehicle.

A straight truck driven by Randy E. Kleist, 43 of Highland, WI, struck the Lanhart vehicle from behind. The Lanhart vehicle left the roadway to the south, rolling over coming to rest against a large tree. The Kleist truck then struck the Voda vehicle from behind pushing the Voda vehicle to the north in the westbound lane where the Voda vehicle struck a westbound vehicle driven by Brent J. Sisson, 26, Sterling. The Voda vehicle continued in the north ditch coming to rest. The Sisson vehicle then traveled through the north ditch coming to rest in a cornfield. The Kleist vehicle then struck the Hanson vehicle from behind. The Kleist vehicle came to rest in the middle of the roadway. The Hanson vehicle came to rest on the south shoulder of the roadway. A vehicle driven by Kenneth R. Gebhardt, 69, Sterling then struck the Kleist vehicle from behind.

Voda, Gebhardt, Sisson were transported to Mercy Medical Center, Clinton. Also, Antonio D. Bassett, 15, Clinton, Trey M. Voda, 8, Clinton, Lionel L. Bassett, 17, Clinton, passengers in the Voda vehicle and Charles E. Henson, Sterling, Heron J. Salmon, 63, Sterling and Joe A. Garcia, Sterling, passengers in the Gebhardt were transported to Mercy Medical Center, Clinton.

Lanhart and a passenger in his vehicle, Shawn E. McColley, Sebula, IA and Estella M. Voda, 37, Clinton, a passenger in the Voda vehicle were all transported to Morrison Hospital.

Departments assisting were Illinois State Police and Whiteside County Sheriff’s department, Morrison fire ambulance, Fulton fire ambulance, Albany fire ambulance and Mercy Medic. Rick’s Auto Body, Hunter Body Shop, Classic Auto and Mid-West Collision assisted in removing vehicles from the scene.

The accident is still under investigation and charges are pending.

by Dawn Zuidema, theCity1.com
June 11, 2004